Georgia State University President Wins 2019 TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award

The TIAA Institute announced this week that Georgia State University President Mark Becker is the recipient of the 2019 Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence in Higher Education. The award recognizes a college or university president or chancellor who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities.

During Becker’s 10-year tenure as president, Georgia State has become nationally recognized as one of the country’s most diverse universities and a model for innovative programs that foster student success. It has set records for dramatically increasing its graduation rates and leading the country in eliminating disparities in student achievement based on race, ethnicity, and income. Through its consolidation with Georgia Perimeter College in 2016, Georgia State became one of the largest universities in the nation and the largest in Georgia, with 53,000 students.

“Mark Becker has worked hard to create opportunities for students of all social and economic backgrounds,” Stephanie Bell-Rose, TIAA senior managing director and head of the TIAA Institute. “Under his leadership, Georgia State has made a significant impact in the lives of countless individuals. President Becker’s innovations demonstrate that even the largest public universities can offer students personalized attention—and achieve incredible results. It’s these reasons why we are honored to present President Becker with the Hesburgh Award.”

For more information, see the TIAA website.